Kering
French luxury giant Kering announced the following executive changes:
- Cédric Charbit, current CEO of Balenciaga, has been appointed as the new CEO of Saint Laurent.
- Gianfranco Gianangeli, Chief Business Officer of Saint Laurent, will take over as CEO of Balenciaga.
Above: Left – Cédric Charbit; Right – Gianfranco Gianangeli
In his new role, Cédric Charbit will succeed Francesca Bellettini, who has taken on the position of Kering’s Deputy CEO. Charbit will leverage his expertise and leadership skills to further develop the Saint Laurent brand, building on its unique identity, heritage, and positioning.
With extensive experience in the luxury sector, Cédric Charbit began his career at Printemps (Printemps Department Store) and later served as Deputy Director and General Manager of Merchandise Planning. In 2009, he became Deputy CEO of Pucci, a brand under the LVMH Group. Charbit joined Kering in 2012 as Product Strategy Director for Saint Laurent, later advancing to Executive Vice President, overseeing product, retail merchandising, and communications. In 2016, he took on the role of CEO and President of Balenciaga, joining Kering’s Executive Committee in 2019.
As CEO of Balenciaga, Gianfranco Gianangeli will focus on strengthening and expanding the brand’s influence and global recognition. He brings significant experience from both Italian and French luxury brands, specializing in merchandising and retail.
Gianangeli started his career at Kering’s Bottega Veneta, holding various positions within the merchandising department, including Director of Menswear Merchandising and Merchandise Planning Manager for Japan. In 2011, he became International Deputy Director for Prada and later Global Retail Director for Givenchy. In 2017, he became CEO of Gianangeli Srl, his own knitwear manufacturing company. In 2020, he served as CEO of Maison Margiela under the OTB Group before joining Saint Laurent in September 2023.
Both appointments will take effect on January 2, 2025, with the two executives reporting to Francesca Bellettini, Deputy CEO of Kering, responsible for brand development. Moving forward, Bellettini will oversee the development of Kering’s fashion, leather goods, and jewelry brands.
Kering Chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault stated that these leadership changes strengthen the group’s organizational structure. Bellettini will focus entirely on brand development, while Deputy CEO and COO Jean-Marc Duplaix will ensure efficient collaboration across the group’s divisions, supporting all brands in achieving Kering’s strategic objectives. Pinault emphasized that the leadership team is well-equipped to address current industry challenges and lay the foundation for long-term growth.
Celine
French luxury group LVMH has confirmed the appointment of Emilie Leblanc as Global Communications Director for its luxury brand CELINE.
In her new role, Emilie Leblanc will join the brand’s Executive Committee and report directly to CEO Severine Merle.
Leblanc’s most recent position was Deputy Chief Marketing Officer at Saint Laurent, a brand under Kering, where she also served as Global Marketing and International Advertising Director from 2006 to 2016. She later joined Reposi, an LVMH brand, in 2017 before returning to Saint Laurent. Before entering the luxury sector, she worked as Advertising Sales Manager for French fashion magazine L’Officiel, published by Editions Jalou.
| Sources: Official press releases, FashionNetwork
| Image Credit: Company websites
| Editor: LeZhi
